Cover shot – Ben Gunzburg for EVERYDAY METAL
Photos & words Ben Gunzburg
In the wake of the past few crazy years that grounded gigs and so many other things to a complete halt, it now feels like the floodgates are well and truly open, with no end of amazing gigs in sight. A Bad Religion tour is always lapped up in its own right, but then throw in another legendary act in Social Distortion and this co-headline tour has had the masses salivating in anticipation.
First up are Melbourne’s own Clowns who waste no time in smashing through their 20 minute set. Frontman Stevie Williams is a hyperactive ball of energy, as always bounding around the stage, fists flying and hyping up the gradually expanding crowd. A blistering, tight set from start to finish shows why this band keeps going from strength to strength and continues to be one of our best punk rock exports.
Mid set amidst some quick banter, Stevie takes a moment to share his opinion of the arena being named after an outwardly anti-LGBTQI+ figure, middle fingers high in the air he yells out, “fuck Margaret Court!”, receiving mixed responses from the crowd. I personally love to see the current generations using their platforms to stand up for the issues they believe in and ruffle feathers in the name of justice. Punks gonna punk.
After a short intermission we’re greeted by Bad Religion who go from casual strut to overdrive in a blink of an eye. Greg Graffin effortlessly holds the crowd’s attention, the arena now significantly more full, and doesn’t miss a beat for the duration of the hour plus set. Facial expressions aplenty, arms waving in every direction and some cheeky banter thrown in for good measure, these guys are a pure joy to watch. It’s clear they still enjoy themselves as much as they ever have in their tenure, as they treat us to a very eclectic set. Some long time fan favourites American Jesus, Generator and 21st Century (Digital Boy) make welcome appearances, alongside some unexpected treats Come Join Us, The Streets Of America, and even set opener Too Much To Ask.
They really hit every mark, but also showing they can wing when someone from the crowd dubbed “the loudest person in the room” yells out a request to play We’re Only Gonna Die. Graffin thanks the crowd member for the reminder as they forgot to include it in the set at which point bassist, and evident set curator Jay Bentley, retorts that he “didn’t forget to include it… I didn’t include it!” Dead set on having a good time, Jay’s wit is matched only by his endless energy, unable to stand still for more than a second during any song. Guitarists Brian Baker and Mike Dimkich are a formidable duo who just radiate cool with every note and stride, and one would be hard pressed to find many drummers as intense as the band’s unwavering metronome in Jamie Miller. Yeah, I’m a fanboy, and a fucking satisfied one at that!
Tonight’s headliner, Social Distortion, are finally back for what may only be there second Australian visit (forgive me if I’m wrong here) so anticipation is high. As the lights dim, classic blues song Mannish Boy by Muddy Waters starts playing over the PA and the band gradually appear through the fog. Opening with So Far Away, the band have a cool energy and play with tight precision. Singer Mike ness has an alluring broodiness to him as he prowls the stage.
Throughout the set we get a good mix from their discography including a few new songs from an album due hopefully this year, classics Reach For The Sky, Don’t Drag Me Down, and of course Story Of My Life, which appears in the middle of the encore. We’re also treated to a few cover songs, namely Chris Isaacs’ Wicked Game and Johnny Cash’s Ring Of Fire, which closes out the night.
We can tell the band is having a good time and we get a little bit of banter from Ness here and there, but legend tells of a fired up, fork-tongued Mike Ness and tonight, he was a little mellow. A fun set, full of nostalgia and high hopes for future plans, but just a little bit overshadowed by the previous bands.
All in all, a great night of punk rock, good vibes, and a healthy dose of sass. Ain’t that what life’s all about?
A special thanks to Dave at Diamond Creative Services and the crew at Margaret Court Arena for having us.
EVERYDAY METAL – SUPPORT LOCAL HEAVY METAL
